Wire stapling machine



WIRE STAPLINGl MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l N VEN TOR.

April- 19, 1932.

R. E. ZERUNEITH 1,855,162v

WIRE sTAPLIG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1928 INVENTOR.

April 19, 1932. R, E, ZERUNEWH 1,855,162

. WIRE STAPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 38 /a /f/-g/ /0 H f| will! Aff) /Zf /Zi INVENTOR. /uaoL F E, Z ERM/1 7/1,

ATTORNEYS.

BY I n E s i n l Y V' v` April 19, 1932. R E ZERUNEW'H 1,855,162

WIRE STAPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

April 19, 1932. Rl E ZERUNEWH v 1,855,162

Y WIRE STAPLING MACHINE File@ Aug. 17, 1928 5 sheets-sheet 5` g3 v 556.02 a@ Zf'/ 66- 625' /30 7 6 9 /ZS INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 19', 1932 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT orrlcr.V

ItUDOLE` E. ZERUNEIT-H, CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NEW JERSEY WIRE STITCHING MACHINE CO., F CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OIEy JERSEY WIRE STAPIQING. MACHINE Application led August 17, 1928. Serial No. 300,244.

My invention relates to a new and useful wire stitching or stapling machine, and it relates more particularly to certain novel wire v feeding, guiding and forming devices, whereby a more rapid stitching or stapling operation is obtainable.

Thus my invention consists of a certain novel intermittent wire feeding mechanism, whereby the staplingoor stitching wire may be fed to the forming vand driving devices of the Y lstitchingmachine in-an intermittent manner,

in predetermined though variable lengths, the novel clutch forming part'of my invenand by a continuously revolving means without the aid of 'any reciprocatory motion or the like. v

My invention further c onsists of a novel forming mechanism including an automatiy cally centering anvil and wire support, whereby. the l wire will be automatically aligned and centered with regards to the former, regardless of 4any slight mis-alignment in the feeding ofthe same. A

My invention further consists of a. cer tain novel mechanism for synchronizing the 25 movement of the wire former, driver and feeding mechanism by positive mechanical.

connections, without the the like.

My invention further consists of a novel 3'0 clincher support whereby a clincher normally out of alignment with the driver, is brought temporarily into alignment with the same prior to the action of the clutch of the Inachine and by the same operation which actuates the clutch. For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can bevariously ar. ranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.`

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference charactersl indicate like parts: 50 Figure l represents a side elevation, partaid of any cams or ly in section, of a wire stitching or stapling machine embodying my invention.

F lgure 2 represents a front elevation of the stitching head of the machincfon a greatly enlarged scale.

Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the former bar. f

`igure 4 represents a front elevation of Jthe same. i

Figure 5 represents a samef Figure 6 represents a view in elevation of top plan view of the tion.

`Figure 7 represents a longitudinal section on line 7 7 of Figure 2 ofthe. stitcher head. Figure 8 represents a section online 8%-8 of Figure 2. 4. f

`l'figure Q-,repres'ents a top plan View of a novel automatically centering anvil and support.

Figure 10 represents a section on line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 represents a side elevation of a wire guide and stationary cutter block.

Figure 12 represents a front elevation of the same.

Figure 13 represents a vertical section on line 13 -13 of Figure 14;, illustrating the formation of the staple subsequent to the cutting of the Wire.

Figure 14 represents a' vertical section on Figure 17 represents a front elevation of the head ofthe machine with the cover partly broken away so as to expose to view the internal construction thereof.

Figure 18v represents a section on line 18-18 of Figure 17.

The stitching or stapling machine'of my novel construction comprises a generally hollow, cast-ironframe or housing 1 including a horizontal base member 2,' the vertical post 3 in the rear, and theoverhanging arm 4.

The free end of the overhanging arm 4 terminates in the head.5 of the machine in which the wire feeding, guiding'cutting, forming and driving mechanisms are contained.

vWithin the upper horizontal arm 4, the main shaft 6 is suitably journalle'd in the bearing 7 at the head end and bearing 8 at the rear end.-

The main shaft 6 may be driven inacontinuous manner byr means of a belt'travelingl upon the pulley 9 and through a novel clutch tobe described more in detail hereinafter.

The clincher 10 of my novel construction is adjustably mounted upon a vertical post 11, pivotally supported at. its lower end upon .the pivot 12 in the .bracket 13 carried upon the lower base 2. The normal position of the l' clincher 10 andfclincher bar 1l"is .shown in solid'lines inFigure. 1, while the operative position thereof is shown in dotted lines in the vsame figure.' The work is placed over the clincher and clincher bar in the inclined 'or normal position thereof, afterwhich said clncher and clincher bar are deflected in the direction of the arrow 14 and brought be- 7 neath and in vertical alignmentwith the driverv'within the head`5-.of'the machine.

The movement A,and 'positioning of the 'l vclincher and clincher bar 10 and 11 and the ten in below the pivot 12 and extending in? operation ofthe clutch 15 are both controlled by a lsingle foot treadle 16, the lever 17 of .which extends through the base 2'of the frame `of the machine and is pivoted at its rear end upon a pivot 18. The clincher bar ost 11 carries a lower caml arm 19 exyto the ase 2 of the frame of the'machine.

The rise or incline 20 of the cam arm 19 is just suiiicient to swing the clincher bar into the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. rl`he neutral cam surface 21 of the cam' bar is in turn arcuate about the pivotal center 18 so that a further downward deflection of the treadle 16 in the direction of the arrow 22 will merely retain the clincher bar 11 in its vertical position, while the clutch is being therebyactuated. The clutch's illustrated particularly in Figures `1 and 6,J andisimou'nted directly u on the main horizontal shaft 6 at the rearV o the machine. Thus the pulley and ily wheel 9 is mounted loosely upon the rear end 'of the main shaft 6 as shown in Figure 1, suitablyv retained thereon by collars or' the like (not shown in the drawings). Tojthe hub 23 of the pulley and iiyfwheel 9 a toothed clutch member 24 is fixedly secured either by forming the same integral with the hub or i f by keying the same` to "the hub of the. fly

wheel and pulley 9. The teeth 25 are provided with a"substantially vertical engaging edge 26 facing thedirection of rotation of the clutch as indicated by the arrow 27. The number of teeth 25 provided upon the clutch member 25 may be varied although four has -30 and the teeth .driven -clutch ring 30 is provided with a single tooth 3l extending inwardly from the inner periphery 32 of said ring, which tooth 1s adapted to be engaged by any one of rthe teeth 25- of the driving clutch member 24 when the clutch ring 30 is deflected eccentrically with respect to the driving clutch memf ber 24 about its pivot 29, in the direction of' the arrow-33. "-:j A spring34 is anchored at one end upon the pivot or stud 29,. while the otherend thereof passes through asuitablel pin carried by the driven clutch ring 30, thereby exerting a constant force upon the clutch ring 30, tending to deflect or swing the same about its pivot 29 in the directionof the arrow 33, thereby tending to cause engagement between the tooth 31 of thedriven clutch ring .member 24. l

'Thus the normal-tendencyvof thev clutch is to effect vanA operative engagementv between and driven members 24 and 30.

the riving resp ctively.

The clutch is controlled from the fout treadle and lever. 16 ,and 17 rrespectively,

through a'suitable connecting rod or chainl 36 having its lower end attached to the lever '17 at al point 37 and having its other end.

secured to a suitable arm 38 carried by the trip shaft39 suitably journaled in the housing of the machine, as indicated particularly in Figure 1'. The` engagement and disen- 25 of. the driving clutch gagement of the clutch iscontrolled by the 7 trip lever 40 fiXedly secured to the trip shaft 39. The driven clutch ring 30 is provided with a notch; or shoulder 41j at a pointgenerally diametrically opposed to the pivot pin the shoulder or notchh4l, when the lever is in its uppermost position 'shown in Figure 6. When in this position, the engagementof the shoulder 41 by the end of the trip lever 40, causes an eccentric and upward deflection of the clutch ring 30 in the direction of the arrow 42, thereby withdrawing or retracting l v the tooth 31 from operative interenggement with the teeth 25 of the driving clutch member 24. Thus, while the trip leve-r 40 is .withdrawn into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, the clutch will remain in engaged position, while when the trip lever is released into its upper position, the driven clutch ring 30M/ill be deflected upwardly into 29. The trip lever40 is adapted to engage .115

an operative position, by the engagement of lever 40, tending to draw the two towards' each other, as indicated in Figure 6. The driven clutch flange 28, is provided with a shoulder or notch 45 facingl the direction opposite` to the normal direction of rotation of the driven clutch members, and is positioned relative to the clutch tooth 31 in the driven clutch ring 30, so that the driven clutch flange 28, revolvingr in the direction of the arrow 27 while the clutch is engaged, will come to rest with the notch or shoulder 45 in juxtaposition to the end of the lever 43, thereby causing the lever 43 to drop into the notch 45 when the driven clutch iiange 28 comes to rest, so as to prevent counter-rotation thereof, and so as to prevent counter-rotation of the stitchingmechanism while the clutch is disengaged.

While the clutch is engaged and the clutch flange 28 revolves, the lever 43 rides on the periphery of the ange 28 `and upon the release of the tension upon the connecting rod or'chain 36 the trip lever 40 is drawn upwardly by the spring 44.

A helical tension spring 46 is also interi posed between the lever 17 and the suitable anchor 47 within the frame or'housing ofthe, machine, normally tending to draw the lever 4 and treadle 17 and 16 respectively in an upward or inoperative position.

To the front endof the main shaft 6. the gear 4 8 is secured, having a suitable hub 49 which is keyed to the shaft 46 by a suitable pin 50er the like. The gear 48- serves -to drive the continuously revolving wire feed mechanism to be described hereinafter. I

The wire feed mechanismis mounted upon two parallel horizontal shafts 51 and 52, the.

. rear ends of which are journalled in suitable bearings 53 in the head housing 5 of the main frame, .while the front ends ofsaid shafts 51 4and 52 are journalled in corresponding bearings 54 in the front cover r55 of the head. The shafts 51 and 52 carry gears 56 and 57 respectively. Each of the gears 56 and 57 is provided with a hub 58 through which a pin 59 extends, by means of which the geai` is fixed to the shaft.

The gears 48, 56, and 57 are all perma. vnently in mesh with each other, whereby the shafts 51 and 5,2 are caused to revolve in the direction of the arrows 60 and 61 respective- Each of the shafts 51 and" 52 extends outwardly beyond the front cover 55 of the head 5 and is provided with two opposed flat recesses 62. for the reception of set screws.

The feeding ofthe wire 63 is effected by means of a pair of similar and opposed feed heads 64 and 65 vrespectively carried upon the outer ends of the two shafts 51 and52 respectively. Each of the feed heads 64 and 65 carries a pair of opposed set screws 66 whereby the heads 64 and 65 may be locked onto the ends of the shafts 51 and 52 and whereby, moreover, a 'slight amount of ad` justment may be obtained between the shafts and the corresponding heads, and hence an adjustment may be made in the relative angular positions fthe two feed heads tc each other.

Each of the feed heads 64 and 65 includes a spring jaw 67 and 68 respectively, formed f by suitable undercutting through a `slot 69 and enlarged opening 70. The slots 69 are `cut in opposite directions in the two feeding heads 64 and 65 so that the free unsupported,

end of the jaw 67 is juxtaposed to the iixed .and connected end of the other jaw 68, and

vice versa.`

The outer peripheries 71 of the jaws 67 and. 68 are cylindrical about the axis shafts 51 and 52 and said cylindrical surfaces off the jaws 67 and 68 are so spaced with respect to each other as to engage the two opposed sides of the wire with suiiicient pressure to 'v clamp the same between the jaws firmly, thereby to propel the wire inthe direction of movement of the peripheries 71, that is, inthe direction of the wire forming, cutting and driving means. Y

Due to the resilient character of` e jaws 67 and 68 wires of varying thickness may be inserted between fsaid jaws within suitable! limits. The length of the wire which is fed to the forming, cutting anddriving mecha l nism (to be described hereinafter) is determined upon the length of the peripheral contact of the two jawsl 67 nd 68, that isthe overlapping length of s id jaws. Thus the maxifmum length, of the wire which lmay be fed with each revolution and consequentlyA with each stroke or operation of the formirg,.cutting and driving mechanism, is the peripheral length of the jaw.v This maxi` m'um length is fed only when the two jaws 67 and 68 are directly opposite to each other so that the entirel length of each of said jaws contactswith the wire simultaneously. By

. varying the extent to which the jaws `67 and 768 overlap the contacting length 'is correspondingly .varied and hence the length of thewire fed with each revolution is similarly varied. LIn order toyadj 11st the angular relation `of the jaws 67 and 68 and hence to vary the overlap of the jaws, the shaft 51 is retained longitudinally in its bearings 53 and- 54 by a latch 72` pivoted upon a pin 73 car ried by thecasing 5 ofthe head. The latch 72 normally rests within anannular groove 74 in the rear end of the shaft 51 thereby normally to retain the shaft 51 against axial displacement. When it is ldesired to vary the angular relation of the two shafts 51 and 52 and hence tovary the overlap of the feed jaws 67 and 68 it is merely necessary to raise the latch 72 and then todisplace the shaft 51, together with the gear 56 carried thereby, in the direction of the arrow 75 (Figure A'8) thereby throwing the gear 56 outof meshwith the gear 57 Aon the shaft 52. The shaft 51'may then be revolved with respect tothe shaft 52-to the desired extent. By moving the shaft rearwardly, the gear '56 is again meshed with the gear 57, thereby locking the two shafts as well as the two spring jaws in v approximately the desired angular relation to each other. The desired final angular adjustment between the two jaws 67 and 68 is obtained by means of the setscrews 66.

The wire 63 is suitably guided to and from the feed mechanism by means of guide tubes and channels 76 and 77 suitably'supported upon-studs or hscrews upon the outer cover 55 ofythe head of the machine.

Upon the lowermost part of the cover 55 a raised pad or boss 78 is provided, having a horizontal channel 79 extending across the same. A stationary cutter block 80 is then provided upon the pad 78.. The cutter block 80 is provided with ahorizontal tongue 81 corresponding to and seated within the horizontal channel 79 thereby to retain the block 80 in alignment. A bolt 82 is then provided,

extending through an elongated aperture 83.

in the block 80, whereby the block may be detachably and adjustably secured Ito the pad78. z

vAn inclined channel 84 is provided in the innerv face of the block 80 and in the channel, 84 a stationary cutter 85 is positioned andl clamped against the face of the pad 78 by means of the bolt or screw 82. The stationaryA be approximately in advance ofthe movevment of the driver on thedown stroke.

I thus' provide a crank pin 88 in the face of the gear 48 on the main shaft 6. Upon the crank pin S8/is mounted a link 89 as well as thel connecting .rod 90. The connecting 'rod 90is directlyconnected at its upper end 91 to the horizontal pin 92 carried by the vertical i driver'-93. The link 89 on the lother en d is connected at its other end to the pin 94 carried by the bell crank lever ,95.` The bell crank lever is pivoted at approximately the pin 94, while the lower arm'98 carries the similar pin 99. The center of the two pins 94 and 99 and the pivot pin 96 of the bell crank lever 95 are arranged at the vertices of an equilateral triangle, as this angularity has been found in practice to give the desired lag between the former and driver. The angularity, however, may be varied, and the angle between the two arms 97 and 98 of the bell cranklever 95 may-likewise be varied within suitable limits.

The lower pin 99 carried by the lowerv arm 98 of the bell crank lever 95 carriesa link 100 similar to the upper link 89. The lower. end of the link 100 is in turn pivoted upon the pin 101 vcarried'by the former 102.

By this means, the circular movement of the crank pin 88 is converted into two vertical reciprocat-ory movements of the driver 93 and of the former 102,4 with the desired lag between the movement of the same. Thus on the down stroke the former precedes the driver by approximately 90, while on the up stroke the former arrives at the uppermost positi/on or dead center about 60 ahead of the driver. The former is shown'detached in. Figures 3, 4 and 5 and is also shownin sections in Figures 13 to 16l inclusive.

The former 102 comprises a U-shaped channel bar of steel'having the Atwo similar sides 103 and`104, and having the pinlOl positioned mid-way of its center andy preferably riveted orI otherwise firmly secured to the central web 105.

The distance between the two sides 103 and 104 of the former bar 102 corresponds substantially to the distancegbetween the two legs of the staple to be formed. A vertical channel 106 is provided in the inner face of each of lthe' sides 103 and 104 of the former bar, for the reception of the legs of the' staple 107.v The positioning of the staple 107 in the former bar and the positioning of the legs 108 thereof in the channels 106 is shown particularly in Figures 13 and 14.

vThe channels 106 also serve' to receive and guide the driver 93, as will b e described more in detail hereinafter. l 7

The diagonally opposed end s of the former vbar are recessed as at 109`for the reception of a small fiat movable cutter 87. The movable cutter 87 is secured to the side of the Due to the fact that the fonmerbar 102 yis entirely symmetrically abut'the/axiseof'o the pin 101, the former bar may be reversed so that either one of the two ends thereof may be employed for the forming operation.

Thus if one end of the former bar wears or spreads as a result of continuous use, the formerbar may be reversed and the opposite end employed, merely by removing the cutter 108 from one end and placing it-on the other end of the former bar and reversing the former bar.

The former bar 102 is guided in a suitable vert-ical channel 112 in the cover 55 of the head of the machine, and is retained within `said channel by the plate 113 which is secured to the cover by means of the screws 114.

The driver 93 in turn is a square bar, of a cross section corresponding substantially to the cross section of the space between the sides 103 and 104 of .the U-shaped former Vbar 102, and is disposed within said space as indicated particularly in Figures 7 and 13 to 16 inclusive. The driving bar 93 isthus slidably mounted within the former bar 102 Vand'is retained therein likewise by the cover vplate 113.

' purpose of driving the same through the material 119 to be stitched or stapled.

The driver head or plate 116` is likewise symmetrical about the' axis of the screw 117 so that it also may be reversed and both ends thereof may be made use of.

In the operation of the machine the former bar 102 descends. and in doing so the wire 63 is sheared at the cutting edge 86, between the stationarv cutter 85'and the movable cutter 87 as indica-ted particularly in Figure 2.

The lower end of the cover plate 113 isl recessed at 119 and within said recess a staple support and anvil 120 is pivotally mounted by means of the pivot pin 121. The staple support and anvil 120 is supported upon an arm and comprises the anvil portion 122 of a width sutlicient to accommodate the width or thickness of the wire, and a supporting member 123. The anvil portion 122 is disposed between an inclined guide surface 124 and the similarly inclined edge 125 of the supporting member 123. Due to the fact that the anvil portion 122 is below, or at the bottomof the two inclined surfaces 124 and 125,.the wire 63 is automatically guided or centered into proper position upon the anvil soas to'align properly with the guide channels 116, the lowermost edges 126 of which act as the forming or bendlng edges.

The support and -anvil 120 is also provided with a bifurcated arm 127 to which a link 128 is pivotally secured at 129. The upper end of the link 128 is in turn pivotally secured at 130 to a short pivotal arm 131 loosely piv.

oted at 132 within a recess 133 in the cover plate 113. A pair of helical tension springs 134 are interposed between the pivot pin 130 and a pair of stationary anchor screws 135, thereby exerting a constant force upon the support and anvil 120 through the link 128. By meansof the springs 134 a support and anvil is automatically returned into ,its initial forming position shown in Figure 7.

After the wire 63 is sheared off as indicated in Figure 2 lthe severed` piece of wire is positioned automatically upon the centra-l anvil port-ion 122of the anvil and support 120 as indicated in Figure 7. With the severed piece of wire thus positioned, the former bar 102 continues on its downward movement and in doing so thebending edges 126 engage the two end portions of the severed piece of wire 63 which overhang the support and anvil 120 on either side thereof, and bend said two end portions downwardly on either side to form the two vertical legs 108 as indicated in Figure 13.

Due-to the fact that the anvil portion 122 is positioned but ashort distance from the pivot center 121 of the anvil support 120,

said anvil' and support will not be deiected about the pivot 121 during the forming op- ',eratioii, since the moment of the force of bending will be relatively small.

After1 the bending and the formation of the i staple is completed, however, and the former descends furtherthe lower rounded edge'136 of the web of the former bar 102 engages ythe inclined edge 125 of the supporting member 123 of the support vand anvil 120. Since the engagement is at a point further removed fro-m the pivotal center 121 of the anvil and support 120, the moment of the force is sufficient to deflect the support and anvil 120 about the pivot 121 in the direction of the arrow 137 ,indicated particularly in Figure 14. As the support and anvil 120 is detlected the driver bar 93 likewise descends and engages the top of the staple 107 and further deflects the support and anvil 120. The support and anvil 120 is thus gradually deflected as the staple 107 is forced downwardly towards, into and through the material 119. Thus the two legs\108 of the staple 107 are supported and retained within the channels 106 of the former bar 102 against any buckling, by the supporting member 123, said .supporting member 123 being deiected outwardly in the direction of the arrow 137 from between the legs 108 of the staple as said staple moves downwardly.

Due to this continuous support of the staencounter the annular depression 138 in the clincher head 10. The-sides of the annular depressionv 138 are suitably inclined so as to o bend the projecting ends of the legs 108 towards each other, thereby to clinch the staple as indicated particularly in Figure 15.

A set screw 139 is alsol provided for the `purpose o f adjustably retaining and aiiixing the stationary cutter 85 in the channel 84., particularly for the purpose of preventingany slight displacement of the cutter 85 in the direction of the movable cutter 87 after the former has been adjusted with respect to the latter. f

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects-as illustrative and no restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Having thus described my inventon, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a stitching machine of the character stated, a main shaft, a slidably mounted staple former, a slidably mounted staple driver in operative relation to said staple former, an eccentric crank pin carried by said shaft, a connecting rod operatively interposed between said crank pin and said driver thereby to convert the rotary movement of the shaft into a reciprocatory movement of the driver, and a pivotally mounted bell crank lever having one arm thereof operatively connected with said crank pin through a suitable link, and havingthe lower end thereof operatively connected with said staple former through a suitable link, thereb to convert the rotary movement of the sha t into a reciprocatory movement of said staple former in timed relation to said driver. 4

2. In a stitching machine of the character stated, a staple forming and driving. mechanism, driving means to operate the sameja pivoted clincher normally out of alignment with said staple forming and drivingI mechanism, a starting treadle, and means carried operative alignment with said staple forming Aby said treadle camming sald clincher into and driving mechanism when the latter is in operation.

3. In a stitching machine of the character stated,y astaple forming and driving mechanism, driving means for operating thesame, a clutch operatively interposed betweenA said staple forming and driving mechanism and' the driving means therefor adapted to effect j operative engagement to the same when it is desired to operate the machine, a -startmg treadle forcontrollingsaid clutch, a clincher normally out' of alignment with said staple forming and driving mechanism, and means -carried by said starting treadle for camming said clincher into operativealignment with f said staple forming and driving mechanism and operating said clutch. A

4. In a stitching machine of lthe'character described, a staple former, a staple driver, a combined staple anvil and staple support for the staple during the drivingoperation beneath and in operative alignment with Said z.

staple former and sta -le driver, and a fixed' pivot for said combined staple anvil and support 'located above and substantially in line with the path of the movement of the driver and former whereby the combined anvil and support can be maintained in forming position during the formation of a staple f port located above and substantially in line with the path of the movement of the driver and former whereb the combined anvil and support can be maintained lin `forming position during the formation of a staple without any locking means and yielding means for returning the combined anvil and supporter t to operative position.

6. In a stitching machine of the character described, a staple former, a staple driver,

is formed inoperative alignment with said a pivoted staple anvil over which the staple staple former and staple driver, and a fixed -pivot for said staple anvil so located that a force applied in forming of the staple is neutralized and no mechanical locking means are necessary during the formation of the staple. s Y ,p i

7 In a wire stitching'machine of the character stated, a stationary cutter block inclined upwardly towards the head of the'stitcher lio to guide the wire being fed across the anvil or piece over which it is -formed at an angle to the line in which it is maintained while being cut off and formed over said anvil, to prevent the -flying ofi' of the severed portion prior to the formation thereof.

8. In a stitching machine, a staple former,

wire feeding means, an anvil over which the staple 1s formed, a fixed, cutter cooperating with the former in severing a ortion lof wire to be formed into a staple, said cutter being` so located as to feed the wire above the line in which it is cut oif and formed so that the wire is engaged by the bottom edge of said `1 former prior to the severing thereof to prevent lying off of the severed portion.

9. In a stitching machine ofthe character described, a staple former ,having grooves therein, a pivoted combined staple anvil and support for supporting the staple during the forming and driving operations, the operative surface of said combined anvil and sup-V port being of a substantially V-shaped formation, .whereby the wire being formed 1s brought into alignment with the grooves of said former to prevent-the accidental shearmg tion.

neath and in operative alignment with said staple former andstaple driver, and a fixed pivot for said combined staple anvil and supporter located above the'point of forming the staple, said fixed pivot being so close to A the line of the path of the movement of the driver and :former that the combined anvil and supporter can be maintained in forming position during the formation ofV a lstaple without any auxiliary locking means.

, 5 12. In a stitching machine of the character described, a staple former, a staple driver,.a combined staple anvil and staple support forv the staple during the driving operation beneath and in operative alignment with said staple former and staple driver, a fixed pivot l' for said combined staple anvil and supporter and yielding means forv returning the combined anvil and supporter tooperative position.

RUDOLF E. ZERUNEITH.

of said wire during the forming operal 10. In a stitcher, a staple former, a staple 

